England send home struggling Steven Finn from Australia tour

ENGLAND’S tour of Australia has suffered another blow with the decision to send home struggling fast bowler Steven Finn because there is no prospect of him being selected for any of the remaining games.

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It is a sad situation but players go through ups and downs in their career and what he needs is a break away from the game

Ashley Giles

Finn was seen as vital part of England’s Ashes bowling attack when he was selected for the tour that began back in October. But he was the only one of the 17-man squad not to play in any of the Tests in the 5-0 whitewash.

With a record of 90 wickets in just 23 Tests, he has impressed observers all round the world in recent years.

On this tour his bowling his game has all but disintegrated though, and it seems the harder he tries to get things right the worse it becomes.

Giles is adamant that Finn will recover and fight his way back to the England side, saying: "He is really big asset for us going forward.

"And when you have such important assets you have to look after them and do what’s best for them, and at the moment that is to go home and sort himself out.

"Every coach working with him only has the interests of Steven at heart. We have had great communications his county Middlesex."

Finn has been selected in a provisional 30-man England squad for the World T20 tournament being played in March, but it is very unlikely he will make the cut for the party of 15 that goes to the competition.

Kevin Pietersen was also named in that squad of 30, but serious discussions about his future with England have yet to take place among the selectors.